I have been expecting this for some time, and the carefully choreographed "shock" of his associates and so-called friends rings hollow. Whether he committed suicide or died "accidentally on purpose" makes no difference: he was a dead man already. His life story is a tragedy, and a reminder of the destructive effect of heartless commercial exploitation. Jackson was destroyed by the capitalist juggernaut - with which (understandably, given his background) he colluded, but which derailed him. His commercial success was not what made him a "genius": it was what destroyed him. Had he been less commercially successful, he might have developed more fully; as it was, he flowered spookily young, failed entirely to develop, and was too smart to kid himself otherwise - hence the freak-show of recent years.

The London concerts would have been an embarrassing fiasco. He knew it and was probably strong-armed into agreeing to them by those around him, clamouring for monies owed; whatever the reason, most of us knew those concerts could never happen. It was the only possible way out and I salute him.Giles SwayneComposer-in-residence, Clare College, Cambridge

Germaine Greer's obituary of Michael Jackson is deeply insightful about masculinity, youth and class, yet it has not one word about his being black. Nobody, least of all Greer who celebrates the originality and influence of his dance, could see Jackson's ethnic heritage as irrelevant. Like Jackson, Greer is selling us weirdness when the brilliance palls.Scott PoyntingManchester

The world seems to be gripped by the death of Michael Jackson, and rightly so. Jackson broke down cultural, religious and racial barriers, and united the world's divided communities in life and death. Nearly four decades before Obamamania swept the world, Jackson showed us that with talent, professionalism and determination, even a black man in the midst of racial segregation could achieve the impossible. Now, even his untimely death seems to have united a world that is riven with gruelling economic downturn and political turmoil. Dr Munjed Farid al-QutobLondon

I have spent the past 10 years researching child sexual abuse and paedophilia, and have published two books on the subject. There is strong evidence that Michael Jackson ruined the lives of some children. We live in a sick culture that turns someone who sleeps with boys into an icon. Not enough is being mentioned in the media about this, despite the evidence - I believe $20m paid to a complainant speaks for itself. Dr Jason LeeUniversity of Derby

The language being used to describe Michael Jackson's drug use reveals some ambiguity. Coverage has focused on how he became addicted to painkillers following injury, because of his abusive past, or to help him deal with stress.

Most street heroin users would have a similar story of violent and abusive childhoods to tell, but don't have the cushion of wealth to protect them from stress. Jackson's riches meant he was spared the indignity of having to reuse dirty needles and syringes potentially infected with HIV and hepatitis B and C, or risk contaminated street drugs. Jackson's daily intravenous cocktail of morphine and pethidine (demerol) is everywhere described as "prescription painkillers", yet outside of acute surgical or obstetric pain, or in terminal illness, these drugs are rightly prescribed with extreme caution. Why is it only poor drug users who are pathologised as "junkies"? Perhaps heroin should henceforth be described using its proper name, diamorphine.Dr Peter WasherLondon

What a pity the Guardian's obituary of Michael Jackson, written by Caroline Sullivan in a speculative, grudging and gossipy tone, fails to make clear that Jackson was not simply the "self-styled King of Pop" but the prince of the "young, gifted and black" generation. Sullivan concludes that Jackson's "bizarre lifestyle and personal notoriety eclipsed his talent and numerous achievements". Beat it, Ms Sullivan.Sonia Carvill CreaghIpswich, Suffolk

Thirteen pages on the death of a pop star? The Guardian seems to be confusing fame with importance.Stephen AdamsLeeds

Shame on the Guardian for downgrading its online coverage of the Iranian election crisis in favour of a disproportionate amount of comment on the death of Michael Jackson. It would appear that all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men are distracted by the death of a once-great entertainer. Richard BakerLondon

I watched Michael Jackson on TV all day Friday, and saw the Thriller video several times. By nightfall I began vaguely to recognise some of the gruesome, gnarled bodies of the undead ... Oh, we'd moved on to Glastonbury.Avril NunnsBishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

Amid all the fulsome tributes to Michael Jackson, I have not noticed one from Jarvis Cocker.William BaileyLlangollen, Denbighshire

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